Hen or partridge soft hackle Brown / grey hen or partridge soft hackle (1 feather)
Tying thread (as body) Red or black tying thread (body)
Peacock herl (optional) Natural peacock herl (1-2 strands for thorax)
How to tie it
Start the thread just behind the eye and lay a smooth thread base back to the bend.
For a sakasa (reverse-hackle) kebari, first tie in one soft hen or partridge feather at the head by its tip, then fold and wrap it 2-3 turns so the fibers sweep FORWARD over the eye. This reversed hackle pulses and opens on the swing.
Anchor the hackle stem and wind the thread back over it to the bend, forming a slim, evenly tapered thread body. A little colored thread showing is the whole point of the fly.
Optionally twist in a strand or two of peacock herl at the front and take two turns for a subtle thorax, keeping the hackle swept forward.
Whip finish behind the forward-facing hackle and add a tiny drop of head cement. Keep it sparse, half the material you think.